Stray cat?

[zukitia]

Where I work, there has been a black cat sat out in the car park every day for the last couple of weeks. The business park is next to a dual carriageway and a railway line and the nearest houses are on the other side of both of these.

The cat looks well, is not skinny and is very friendly but is sits outside work from 9 to 5 and I can't make up my mind whether to leave the cat to its own devices or to take it home with me - If it does belong to someone they will miss it if I take it, but then again if I leave it and anything happens to it I won't be able to live with myself. Help!!!

[Kozmic Blues]

It is a hard choice to make.But if the cat looks healthy and seems not to likely be run over you should leave it were it is.it will only try to make its way back to from were you take it.

If you are very concerned you could call the rspca and ask for some advice.

contact

http://www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/Satellite?page name=RSPCA/Utility/Contac

[Kozmic Blues]

http://www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/Satellite?page name=RSPCA/Utility/Contact

This link will work sorry.

kozmic :)

[Pippa68]

How about getting in touch with your local Cats protection league? the cat may well have been reported missing or is micro chipped..the CPL can scan the cat to check.

I had a stray cat wander in..he didn't look stray ~ very healthy looking! we adopted him 4 months after taking him in as nobody had reported him missing, he wasn't chipped & according to the Vet the cat had been wandering a while (a health check confirmed this).

Do what your heart tells you ~ I haven't regretted it!

[nickmo]

Hi zukitia - if you do take him/her, and a vet says no chip, consider putting a couple of cards in the local newsagents or onto lamposts if you think he/she may have an owner that will miss him/her. If no-one comes forward, take the very best care of the stray...

[gessoo]

It is very likely that the cat has strayed over from the housing and it will be extremely dangerous for it to try and return.

Personally, I would take it home, put an ad in the paper, the local vets and in any shops on the housing area. Plus as Nickmo says put some notes up on lamp-posts. If noone claims it then you will have done your best and the cat will be safe and well.

Dont give a description of the cat in your adverts. If they do call you to claim it, make sure they give you an accurate description of the cat before you hand it over. There are some nasty people about.

[wolf63]

If he/she has a collar you could attach a note to it. If he goes home after his hard 9 to 5 shift his owner will reply to it.

It is also possible that he travels cross-country to that spot in the hope of treats from people.

This situation would worry me too - you don't want to kidnap a loved pet and you don't want anything nasty to happen to him. Tough one!

[Pippa68]

This is why I went to Cats Protection ~ I was so worried I was stealing a beloved pet..but then realised that if Sonny had been so well loved he would have been reported as missing..

I would get the cat checked out ~ make sure he really is healthy (you never can tell!) then you have done your best for him. Cats can travel miles..I tried local posters to no avail :o(

He may well have been abandoned or his owners have moved house. Hope it gets solved ~ let us know what happens ~ please!

[fat rascal]

can't thinkmof anything new to add, but good luck, it is hard walking away froma cat that you feel may be lost..

[zukitia]

Hi all, thanks for all your advice.

The local Cats Protection has shut down due to lack of volunteers - I have emailed the RSPCA and am waiting for a response. I haven't seen her so far today so I hope she's OK. I think I probably will take her today - I just hope my other two (also rescue) cats are OK with this!

[gessoo]

Good luck. I think you are doing just the right thing.

[Kozmic Blues]

HI zukitia!

Good to hear you contacted someone.If you feel its for her saftey take her with you and i wish you and her the a bright future!!
Let me know how things go.

lol kozmic :)

[Pippa68]

Good luck :o) please let us know how everything goes!

[zukitia]

Thanks everyone!

Just to give you an update, I came back for the cat on Friday and Sunday but it was nowhere to be seen. I started to worry when I hadn't seen her by Monday morning, but then I found out another lady at the office had also taken pity on her and taken her in! She lives much nearer the office than I do so if the cat tries to wander back or if it belongs to someone local it should work out well!

A happy ending for everyone!

[Kozmic Blues]

Thats great zukitia.Thanx for letting us no.

LOL kozmic :)

Dont you just love happy endings!!